Transfer mechanism



July 3, 1928. 1,675,346

W. O. HALL TRANSFER MECHANISM Fi led Feb. 26, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet lSHUWHTOI Wwm 0295414,

m2? WM,

firm news,

July 3, 1928.

W. O. HALL TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Feb. '26, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 vFJvwMHEo-z W M, (a/M aw,

affornevs July 3, 1928.

W. O. HALL TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet fllmlml r mum:

anvcufoz July 3, 1928. 1,675,346

w. o. HALL TRANSFER MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 26, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4[if/Mm FM,

July 3, 1928. 1,675,346

W. O. HALL TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (1nmute:

Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER O. HALL, OF FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN TYPE FOUNDERS COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY,NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TRANSFER MECHANISM.

Application filed February 26, 1923. Serial No. 621,438.

The present invention relates to V sheet transfer mechanism for printingpresses of the oscillating type, more eonnnonly called 'job pressesmandis particularly adapted for use with presses of this type which have anoscillating platen and a stationary bed, such as the Golding press.

The problem of producing a practical and. eflicient automatic sheet feedand delivery for printing presses of the oscillatingplaten crank driventype is of great complexity and difficulty as compared with the problemof producing an automatic device of this kind for presses of thestationaryplatenosciHating-bed type and presses with oscillating platenand bed. Several practical automatic feed and delivery devices have beenproduced for presses of the latter types, but so far as I am aware nopractical inechanisn'l has heretofore been produced for presses of thestationary-bed crankdriven and oscillating-platen-type. The difiicultyis due to the movements of the platen on which the sheets are to bedeposited and from which the printed sheets are to be taken, and theconsequent necessity of so timing the movements of the feeding devicesand the delivery devices relative to each other and relative to theoscillation of the platen that they will deposit the sheets on theplaten and take the printed sheets therefrom smoothly and withoutinterfer ence with each other or with the platen.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the difficultyreferred to above and produce a practical and efficient sheet feed anddelivery for presses of the oscillating platen crank-driven type; and tothis end the invention resides in mechanism which will hereinafter beparticularly described and the novel features whereof will be pointedout in the claims.

Although the present invention has been designed with particularreference to presses of the oscillating-platen crank-driven type, thereare certain features of the invention that are applicable to presses ofother types,

as will be apparent hereinafter.

Generally stated, the sheet feeding and delivery mechanism of thepresent invention comprises two or more pairs of horizontally alignedsheet feeding fingers mounted to oscillate bodily in vertical planesintersecting the platen and moving in paths extending' from elevatedpoints in front of the press to points adjacent the lower edge of theplaten, and a similar set of delivery lii'lgers .mounted to oscillate ina path, below the the sheet thereon; combined with automatic means forclosing the feeding fingers on a sheet, presented thereto by a suitablesheet feeding device, and for openingsaid ting-era when they approachthe limit of their movement towards the platen, to deposit the sheetthereon; and automatic devices for closing the delivery fingers on thetail edge of a sheet carried by the platen, and opening; said fingers torelease the sheet'whcn the fingers approach the opposite limit'oftheirniovcment. The means for oscillating the feeding fingers preferablyincludes crank and lever mechanism operating to slow down the movementof said fingers as they approach and recede from the terminal points,

so as to allow sufficient time for the platen to open and clear saidfingers as they cross the edge of the platen, and so as to permit thedelivery fingers to abstract the printed. sheet from the platen beforethe feeding ingcrs deposit the blank sheet thereon. The means foroscillating the delivery fingers also comprises crank and levermechanism and preferably said mechanism includes tvgo separate geartrains from the operating shaft of the press so designed as to impart tosaid fingers a resultant movement which is accelerated while saidfingers are moving to and fro over the platen, to cause said fingers tomove quickly across the platen, grasp the sheet thereon, and movequickly back out of the way of the feeding lingers, which aresimultaneously moving over the platen but with a relatively lowvelocity. In this manner the feeding'and delivery devices are projectedand retracted across the face of the platen in such timed relation tothe oscillation thereof and with such relative velocities that thesheets are deposited thereon and abstracted therefrom smoothly andwithout interference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a particular description ofmechanism embodying the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a side view of sheet feeding and delivery mechanismconstructed in accordface of the platen adjacent the tail edge of ancewith the invention and applied to a Golding press;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, looking towards the right of Fig. 1;

Fig: 3 is a plan view looking down on Fig. 1 of the sheet feeding anddelivery carriages and their associated operating mechanism;

Fig. i is a sectional plan view taken on line 41 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the'means for mounting and operating thesheet gripping fingers;

F 6 is a detail view illustrating the position of parts when the delivergripper fingers are in open position;

Fig. 7 is a detailview of a: shaft on which the upper gripper fingersare adapted to be mounted;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a driving means for the delivery carriage;

Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the adjustable mounting of thesheet-gripping fingers; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing clamping devices between the auxiliaryframe and frame of the press.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows only sufiicient parts of a pressof the Gold ing type to illustrate the application of the presentinvention thereto. A designates the frame; B, the stationary form bed;and C, the oscillating platen. The platen. pivoted to the frame at D, isoperated by well known mechanismv shown partly in dotted lines inFig. 1. Said mechanism is operated from a power or driving shaft 1carrying a pinion 2 which meshes with a large gear 3' on amain operatingshaft 4:; and comprises a crank 5 onsha-ft 4, a link 6 connect ing saidcrank to radius bars 7; a toggle 8, 9 connecting the radius bars to theplaten, and a pair of draw bars 10 connecting the toggle with frame Aand extending across the ends of the platen.

The sheet feeding and delivery mechanism is adapted to be mounted on anauxiliary frame attached to the press frame A and extending across andspaced from the front of the press. The auxiliary frame is shown in sideelevation in Fig. 1 and in front elevation in Fig. 2. It is ofrectangular form and comprises vertical sidebars 11 connected at theirupper ends by a horizontal bar 12 and braced at their lower ends by arod 13 Said auxiliary frame is preferably pivotally mounted at the sideon the press frame, so that it may be swung horizontally, with the sheetfeeding and delivery mechanism carried thereby, ninety degrees or morefrom operative position, to permit access to the press. For this purposeone of the side bars 11 has a pair of parallel arms 14 extending towardsthe press and terminating in bifurcations 145 which are adapted tostraddle lugs 15 formed on the ends of a pair of brackets 15 secured toand projecting from the sides of frame A. The bifurcated ends of armslet have vertical perforations which register with perforations iii-thelugs of brackets 15, and pins 14: passing through these perforationspivotally connect the frames. The other side bar 11 has a. pair ofparallel arms 14L which extend towards the frame 15 and .terminate inright angular portions 14; which have open slots l0 receive threadedbolts 14: hinged to the frame 15. Bolts 14 are provided with knurledpieces 1r. hen the pieces 14 are unscrewed and bolts 14 swing out of theslots in 1 1 and the operating links between the driving shaft of thepress and the sheet conveying mechanism are disconnected,. the auxiliaryframe and said mechanism. may be swung about a vertical axis to the sideentirely out of the way of the bed and platen.

The mechanism for feeding sheets to the platen con'iprises two or morepairs of sheet gripping fingers supported from a pair of arms 16, whichare keyed to the ends of a horizontal shaft 17 journaled in the sidebars 11. The arms 16 are oscillated. by mechanism comprising a link 18connected at one end to one of said arms and at its other to a crank 19secured to the large gear wheel 3. Each pair of sheet gripping fingers,as more clearly shown on Figures 5, 6 and 10, consists of an uppermovable finger 20 and a lower relatively stationary finger The upperfingers 20 are secured to split collars 2O which are adjustably mountedon a snaft 22, which extends transversely between the arms 16 and isrotatably supported in the ends of said arms. The lower relativelystationary fingers 21 are attached to clove-tail blocks 21 which arefrictionally held in a dove-tail groove formed on the under side of arod 23, which acts both as a support for said fingers and a tie rod forarms 16. The fingers are thus adjustable longitudinally of the shaft androd to suit sheets of different widths.

Secured to shaft 22 outside of the arm 16 is an arm 24 carrying a roller25 at its free end. Inside of the arm 16 the shaft 22 carries a collar26 in which is formed a notch 27. A spring 28, secured at one end to arm16 and at its other end to shaft 22, tends to rotate said shaft in adirection to close the fingers 20 on the relatively stationary fingers21. The fingers 20 are moved to open position, or cocked, by roller 25com ng in contact with draw bar 10, as the feeding mechanism approachesthe limit of its movement towards the platen. Said fingers are held openduring the return movement of the feeding mechanism, and until thelatter approaches the limits of its movement toward a pile of sheets, bymeans of a pawl 29 till engaging the notch 27 in collar 26. Pawl 29 isattached to or integrally formed with an arm 30, which is pivoted on thetie rod 23 inside of the arm 16 and urged by a suitable spring in adirection to engage said pawl with the notch. An arm 30 carries a roller31 which engages a cam 32 when the sheet feeding mechanism approachesthe limit of its movement towards the sheet pile.'

As said roller travels along the cam, arm 30 is rotated in a directionto raise the pawl out of the notch, permitting spring 28 to rotate shaft22 and close, or uneoek, fingers 20. As said fingers close, they grip asheet against the relatively stationary fingers 21. said sheet havingbeen presented to grippers 20 and 21 by any suitable automatic sheetfeeding device.

The mechanism for taking the printed sheets from the platen anddelivering same to a suitable conveyor comprises sheet gripping fingerssupported by a carriage 33 which reciprocates on a fixed track 34rigidly attached at one end to a side of the auxiliary frame. Like thefeed grippers, the delivery grippers consist of two or more pairs offingers, the members of which are mounted respectively on a shaft and arod extending transversely between the sides of the carriage. Each pairof these fingers consists of a relatively stationary lower finger 35adjustably secured to the underside of a tie rod 36, and an uppermovable finger 37 adjustably mounted on the upper side of a shaft 37 Thefingers are adjustable longitudinally of the shaft and rod to conformwith differences in sheet widths.

An arm 38 on shaft 37 has a notched boss, formed with a notch 38 whichis adapted to be engaged by a pawl 39 secured toan arm 39 which ispivoted on tie rod 36; and

the shaft 37 is urged by a suitable spring 87 in a direction to closefingers 37 on the relatively stationary fingers 35, the constructionbeing similar to the construction of the controlling means for the feedfingers above described.

lVhen carriage 33 approaches the limit of its movement away from theplaten. a roller 38" on arm 38 contacts a cam 40 (Fig. 2), which is adjustably mounted on a bracket 40 projecting inwardly from aside bar 11.This causes rotat on of shaft 37 and consequent opening or cocking, offingers 39, and causes release of the sheet. Fingers 39 are held open,or cooked, during the return movement of the carriage, and until thelatter approaches the limit of its movement to wards the platen, by thepawl 39 on arm 39 engaging the notch in the boss of arm 38. As thecarriage approaches the limit of its movement towards the platen thetail edge of the sheet thereon enters between the gripping fingers andthe roller 39 on arm 39 contacts a projection on the platen thus pivotedswivel blocks 52.

moving the pawl out of the notch 38 and permitting shaft 37" to uncockfingers 39, and rotate them in sheet clamping relation to the relativelystationary fingers 35.

The carriage 33 is operated by l1'1QCl1l:1--

47 keyed on shaft 4. A sleeve 48 on shaft 17 extends completely betweenthe segments 41 and formed integrally with said sleeve are two arms 49which extend upwardly adjacent the segments 41 and have pivoted at theirupper ends a pair of toothed segments 50 which mesh with the segments41. Secured to segments 50 are upwardly extending arms 51 on the freeends of which are Blocks 52 are bored through to receive tubularextensions on carriage 33, being adjustably secured to the blocks by setscrews 53. Formed integrally with sleeve 48 at one'end thereof, is adepending arm 54 which is pivoted to one end of a link 55, the other endof said link being connected to a crank 56 on the shaft 4. 1

In Fig. 1 the platen is shown in open position with the sheet feedingdevices moving thereover towards their sheet depositing position with asheet S, while the sheet delivery devices are at the limit of their movementtowards the platen with the gripping fingers thereof closed on thetail edge of a printed sheet. The shaft 4 is moving counterclockwise andthe crank 19 is pulling the link 18 and moving the arms 1.6 downwardly,while the crank 56 and the cam 46 are on the point of moving link 55 tothe right and link 43 to the left. as viewed in Fig. 1. As shaft 4continues to rotate from the position shown in Fig. 1, the cam track 46will move the link 43 to the left with a relatively quick movement whilethe crank 56 will operate to move link to the right. Hence segments 41will rotate in a clockwise direction while arms 49 will rotate in acounterclockwise direction. Segments 50 and the arms 51 rigid therewithwill thus be rotated counterclockwise bodily about the axis of shaft 17and also in the same direction about their pivotal connect ons with arms49, the bodily movement of said segments being derived from the rotationof arms 49 by the link 55 and crank 56 and the pivotal movements of saidsegments on said arms 49 being derived from the rotation of segment- 41and also from the bodily movement of segment 50 on segment 41. Hence Oneof the the arms 51 have resultant movementwhielr is PI'OClUCGCl by thetwo separate cam and crank connections, and aswill be obvious by aninspection of the construction and relative po. ition of the parts shownby Fig; 1, the motion of arms 51 greatly accelerated during themovements of the delivery fingers over the platen face. Hence thedelivery are will move downquickly over the pla on to the position shownin Fig. 1 seize the sheet. thereon, and move same with equal quicknessout oi: the way of the sheet which the teed fingers are on the point ofdepositing.

lVhile the delivery fingers are thus moving over the platen to seize theprinted sheet and take sameto a suitable point of delivery, the crank19' is moving the arms 16 with the feed fingers carried thereby frompoints adjacent the pile P of sheets, down over the platen. to theirsheet depositing position. .Vhen. arms 16 approach the limit of theirdownward movement. the roller on arm makes contact with: draw bar 10,thus rotating fingers 20 and releasing the sheet, which falls on theplaten, the progress of said sheet being stopped by register fingers 57'which are adjustably attached in any known mannerto the lower edge ofsaid platen. The feed fingers have a slightly further downward movementafter depositing the sheet which perm, a them to clear the head of thesheet on their return movement, said fingers during this furthermovement operating to hold said sheet down on the platen.

As the delivery mechanism approaches the limit of its movement away fromthe platen the roller 38 on arm 38 makes contact with the cam ll),rotating fingers 37 and releasing the sheet held thereby. Any suitableconveying means may be employed for receiving the sheets from thedelivery fingers and conveying same to a desired point. Fingers 37 areheld in open position by the pawl 39 on arm 39 engaging the notch 38 inthe boss of the arm 38 and are held open until the roller 39 on arm 39makes contact with a projection on the platen outside of the sheet afterthe fingers have received between them the tail. edge of the pantedsheet. It will be observed that the delivery mechanism has a substantialdwell at the limit of its movement away from the platen, due to the factthat the cam track 46 is substantially concentric with shaft 4 and thecrank 56 is passing over its dead center While the mechanism occupiesthis position. This gives ample time for the sheet to fall from saiddelivery fingers and makes it possible to produce the quick movements ofsaid fingers over the platen. It will also be observed that due to therelative positions of the axes of shafts 17 and 4, the crank 19 will.give a relatively slow movement to the arms 16 and. the feed mechanismcarried thereby while said. mechanismii is approaching the platen and afast movement away from the platen. Hence ample time w ll be allowed forthe platen/to open and. clear the feeding lingers as they cross the edgethereof: and for the deli; .xy fingers to withdraw the printed sheet"rom the platen before the teoding mechanism deposits a sheet thereon.

As the sheets operated on vary in width, it necessary to adjust torthese variations. llheretore the 'leeding lingers are mounted so thatthey may be clamped. or secured at different gzoints on the shaft 22 androd. 23, while the delivery fingers are adjustable in a similar manneron the shaft 37 and rod 36-, as shown in Figure 10,. and the register'ers 57 are attachalille at dillerent points lhl 1; the edge of theplaten. By these in: is the mechanism is ad ustable tor any h sheetwithin the platen range. adjusting to suit dili'erent lengths of sheetsth carria e 233 is moved relatively to the rel blocks 52 and clamped bythe set screws 53 or other suitable clal'nping means in properPOl'lllilUIl tor the particular length sheet operateitl on.

Although an embodiment of the in.\-'ention has been described indetail,it is not limited to the form shown but includes modifications andchanges within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is;

I. In combination with a prii-iting press of the oscillating type, sheetfeedingmechanism comprisi-n a plurality of pairs of sheet gripping ngersmounted for reciprocation in planesinterseoting the platen, means ac-,tuated by the operating shaft of the press for reciprocating saidfingers from points adjacent a pile of sheets to points adjacent thelower edge of the platen when the latter is in substantially openposition, and returning said fingers before the platen closes, andautomatic means for opening said gripper fingers when they approach thelimit of their movement towards the platen and for closing said fingerswhen they approach the opposite limit of their movement.

2. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding mechanism comprising sheet gripping fingers mounted forbodily movement in a curved path extending from a point adjacent thelower edge of the platen, when the latter is open, to points adjacent apile of sheets, means for so moving said fingers in timed relation toeach oscillation of said plat-en and before the platen closes, means foropening said fingers to deposit a sheet on the platen when said fingersapproach the limit oi their movement towards the platen, means forholding sald fingers open, and means for For releasing said holdingmeans to permit said fingers to, close on a sheet when said fingersplete cycle before the platen closes, two or more pairs of gripperfingers supported from the upper end of said arm and movable thereby incurved paths extending from points adjacent the lower edge of the platenwhen the latter is open, to points adjacent a p le of sheets, means foropennig said fingers to deposit a sheet on the platen when said fingersapproach the limit of their movement towards said platen, a detentholding said fingers open, and means for releasing said detent to permitsaid fingers to close on a sheet when said fingers approach the opposite limit of their movement.

4. In Combination with a printing press of v the oscillating platentype, sheet feeding mechanism comprising an arm pivoted for movementabout a horizontal axis in front of the press and in a vertical plane atthe side of the platen, means for oscillating said arm in timed relationto the oscillation of the platen through a complete cycle before theplaten closes, two or more pairs of horizontally alined gripper lingerssupported from the upper end of said arm and movable thereby in curvedpaths extending from points adjacent the lower edge of the platen, whenthe latter is open, to points adjacent a pile of sheets, means foropening said fingers to deposit a sheet on the platen when said fingersapproach the limit of their movement towards said platen, means holdingsaid fin gers open, and means for releasing said holding means to permitsaid fingers to close on a sheet when said fingers are near the oppositelimit of their movement. I

5. In combination with a printing press of i the oscillating platentype, sheet feeding mechanism comprising an arm pivoted in front of thepress and positioned to move in a vertical plane at the side of theplaten, means for oscillating said arm in timed relation to theoscillation of said platen, a transverse gripper shaft journaledfat thefree end of said arm, a rod secured to said arm adjacent and parallel tosaid gripper shaft, nppera-nd lowersheet gripping fingers fixed to saidshaft and rod respectively, means for rotating said gripper shaft toopen said fingers when said arm approaches the limit of its movementtowards the press, a detent holding said shaft, and means for releasingsaid detent to permit said fingers to close when said arm is near theopposite limit of its movement;

6. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding mechanism comprising a transverse shaft journaled in frontof the press, a pair of arms keyed on said shaft and positioned tooperate in vertical planes at the sides of the platen, means foroscillating said arms in timed relation to the oscillations of saidplaten, a gripper shaft 'journaled in the free ends of said arms, a tierod secured to said arms adjacent and parallel to said gripper shaft,upper and lower sheet gripping fingers fixed to said shaft and rodrespectively, said shaft being biased to closesaid fingers, means forrotatingsaid gripper shaft to open said fingers when said arms approachthe limit of their movement towards the press, adetent holding saidshaft, and means for releasing said detent to permit said fingers toclose when said arms approach the opposite limit of their movement.

7. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding a mechanism comprising a pair of arms pivoted in front ofthe press and positioned to operate in vertical planes at the sides ofthe platen, means for oscillating said arms in timed relation to theoscillation of said platen, a gripper shaft journaled in the free endsof said arms, a rod secured to said arms adjacent and parallel to saidgripper shaft, upper and lower sheet gripping fingers fixed to saidshaft and rod, said shaft being biased to close said fingers, means forrotating said gripper shaft to open said f'mgers when said arms approachthe limit of their move ment towards the press, a detent holding saidgripper shaft, and means for releasing said detent'when said armsapproach the opposite limit of their movement.

.8. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding mechanism comprising a pair of arms pivoted in front ofthe platen and positioned to ope ate in vertical planes at the sidesthereof, means for oscillating said arms in timed relation to theoscillation of said platen, gripper fingers supported from the uPberends of said arms and movable thereby in a curved path extending frompoints adjacent the lower edgeof the platen, when the latter is open, topoints adjacent a pile of sheets, means for opening said fingers todeposit a sheet on the platen when said fingers approach the limit oftheir movement towards said platen, means holding said fingers open, andmeans for releasing said holding means to permit said fingers to closeon a sheet when said fingers approach the opposite limit of theirmovement.

9. In combination with a printing press of the oscillatingplaten type,sheet feeding mechanism comprising a transverse shaft journaledin frontof thepress, a pair of arms fixed to said shaft and positioned to movein vertical planes at the sides of the platen, sheet gripping devicessupported from the upper ends of said a ms and movable thereby in acurved path from points adjacent the lower edge of the platen when helatter is open to points adjacent a pile of sheets, automatic means foroperating said gripping devices to cause them to take a sheet from saidpile and deposits same on said platema crank on the operating shaft ofthe press and a link connecting said crank to one of said arms. 7

10. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding nmchanism comprising a transverse shaft journaled in frontof the press, a pair of arms fixed to said shaft and positioned to movein vertical planes at the sides of the platen, a gripper shaft .jouinaled at the free ends of said arms, a tiered secured to said armsadjacent and parallel to said gripper s aft, upper and lower sheetgripping fingers t said shaft and rod respectively, said shaft beingbiased to close said lingers, an arm on said shaft-adapted to contactthe draw har ofthe press to rotate said shatl t and open sai: lingers, adetent holding said sh a relatively fixed cam to release said detontwhen said arms approach the limit (it their movement away from thepress, crank on the operating shaft of the press, and link connectingsaid crank to one said arms.

1;. In comhination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type.sheet feed no; mechanism comprising an arm pivoted in front of 10 pressand positioned to oscillate in a vertical plane at the side of theplaten, sheet gripping devices carried by said arm and bodily movablethereby in a curvcl path (from points adjacent the lower edge oftheplaten, when the latter is open, to points adjacent a pile of sheets,automatic means torop n'ating said gripping devices to cause them totake a sheet from said pile and deposit same on said platen, a crank onthe operating shaft of the press, and a link connecting said crank tosaid a m.

12. In com ination with a printing press of the oscillating Qlfltfintype, sheet feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of pairs of reilient sheet gripping lingers mounted for movement in vertical planesintersecting the platen, means actuated by the operating shaft of thepress for moving said tingers in, curved paths extending from pointsadjacent the lower edge of theplaten when the latter is in fully openposition to elevated points in front of the platen, means for openingsaid fingers shortly before they reach the limit of their movementtowards the platen to deposit a sheet thereon-adjustable sheetregistering fingers at the lower edge of the platen to stop the progressof the sheet, said gripping 'fingers operating during their finalmovement towards the platen to hold said sheet thereon, and means forclosing said fingers on a sheet as they approach the opposite limit oftheir movement.

'13. In combination With a printing press of the oscillating platentype, sheet feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of pairs ofhorizontally alined sheet gripping Efingers mounted for movement invertical planes intersecting the platen, means operated in timedrelation to the oscillation of the platen formoving said lingers incurved paths ex tending zfrom pointsradjacent the lower edge of theplaten when the latter is fully opened to points adjacent a pile ofsheets, and automatic means for actuating said gripping fingers. q

'14. In a sheet feeding mechanism -for printing presses of theoscillating platen type, sheet feeding mechanism comprising a pluralityof pairs of sheet gripping lingers mounted for movement in verticalplanes intersecting theplaten, means actuated by the operatin shaft ofthe press for moving said lingers 'rom points adjacent the lower edge ofthe platen, when the latter is fully open, to points adjacent a pileo'f'sheets, and automatic means "for opening said gripper fingers Whenthey approach the limit of their movement toward the platen and forclosing said fingers when they approach the opposite limit of theirmovement.

15. In combination With a printing press of the oscillating type, sheetfeeding mecha-- nism comprising two or more pairs of hori- Zontallyalined feeding lingers, said fingers mounted to move in vertical planesintersecting the platen, means for -reciprocating said lingers bodily intimed relation to the oscillation of the press in circular arc pathstowards and from {the face of the platen and completing thiscyc'le'before the platen closes, the path of said feeding fingersextending to points adjacent the lower edge of the platen, and automaticmeans for opening and closing said fingers as they approach the limitsof their movements.

16. Automatic sheet -feeding mechanism for printing presses of theoscillating type comprising a vertical frame supported from the frame-ofthe press in front of the platen, sheet feeding mechanism mounted onsaid frame, links connecting said feeding mechanism comprising coac'tinggripper fingers and to an operating shaft of the press, said links beingdetachable and said vertical frame having a hinge connection with saidpress frame'at the side thereof, whereby said vertical frame andmechanism maybe swung aside to permit access to the press.

17. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding mechanism, comprising a transverse shaft.

ing said gripping devices to cause them to I take a sheet from the pileand deposit same on the platen at each operating cycle and return towardsheet receiving position before the platen closes including a crank onthe operating shaft of the press, a link connecting said crank to one ofsaid arms.

18. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding Ill) mechanism comprising sheet feeding mech anismincluding a plurality of pairs or hori- Zontally alined feeding lingersmounted to oscillate in vertical planes intersecting the platen, meansoperated in timed relation to the oscillation of the platen foroscillating said lingers in curved paths extending from points adjacentthe lower edge of the platen, when the latter is open, to points .infront of the press adjacent a pile of sheets, auto matic means foractuating said fingers to cause them to close on a sheet presentedthereto from said pile, and deposit same on said platen, and returntoward sheet receiving position before the platen closes.

.19. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platentype, sheet feeding mechanism comprising two or more pairs ofhorizontally alined feeding fingers, said lingers mounted to operate invertical planes intersecting the platen, means actuated in timedrelation to the operation of the platen for oscillating said feedingfingers in a curved path extending from the lower edge of the platen,when the latter is open, to an elevated point in front of the press,whereby said fingers are removed from said platen when it closes andmeans for opening and closing said feeding fingers as they approach thelimits of their movements towards and away from the platen respectively.

20. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating platen type,sheet feeding mechanism comprising a pair of feeding fingers, means formounting said fingers for bodily movement in vertical planesintersecting the platen, means actuated in timed relation to theoscillation of said platen for oscillating said lingers in superposedpaths towards and from the. face of the platen, the path of saidfeedingfingers extending to a point adjacent the lower edge of theplaten when said platen is opened, and automatic means for opening saidgrippers as they appreach the lower position and closing them as theyleave their upper position.

21. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating type, sheetfeeding and delivering mechanism which feeds from and delivers toseparate positions above and in front of the platen, comprising two ormore pairs of horizontally aligned feeding fingers and two or more pairsof horizontally aligned delivery fingers, said fingers mounted to move mvertloal planes interseotmg the platen, means for reciprocating saidfingers bodily in timed relation to the oscillation of the press, saidmeans operatmg to cause the feeding fingers to move over the face of theplaten as the latter ap-ir preaches the limit of its opening movement todeposit a sheet thereon when 1n open pos1 tion and operating to causethe dellvery lingers to withdraw the printed sheet as the feedinglingers are movingover the platen, whereb said feeding and deliveryfingers are hot above the platen and clear thereof when the impressionis taken.

22. In combination with a printing press of the oscillating type sheetfeeding and delivering mechanism which feeds from and delivers toseparate positions above and in front of the platen, comprising two ormore pairs of feeding fingersand two or more] pairs of delivery fingers,means for reciproeating said lingers bodily in planes intersectingtheplaten and in superposed paths with the path of the feeding fingersabove that of the delivery fingers, said means operating to cause thefeeding fingers to move over the face of the platen as the latter opens,to deposit a sheet thereon, and operating to cause the delivery fingersto With draw the printed sheet under the sheet being deposited, wherebysaid feeding and delivery fingers are both above the platen and clearthereof when the impression is taken.

In combination with a printing press of the oscillating type, sheetfeeding and delivery mechanism which feeds from and delivers to separatepositions above and in front of the platen, comprising feedingmechanisms operating to carry a sheet over the face of the platen anddeposit same thereon when theplaten is in open position and deliverymechanism operating to withdraw the printed. sheet from the platen whilethe first sheet is being carried over the face of the platen, wherebysaidifeeding and delivery mechanism is both above the platen and clearthereof when the impression is taken In testimony whereof I hereuntoaffix my signature.

WALTER o. HALL.

